Frankie Dettori receiving a presentation at Leopardstown. (Photo by Breandán Ó hUallacháin )
By Breandán Ó hUallacháin
Soon to retire from riding in Europe, but seemingly not from riding in the USA, Frankie Dettori was in Ireland recently on what seems to almost be a worldwide tour.
The Italian rode at three tracks on the Emerald Isle: Down Royal, Leopardstown and The Curragh.
His visit to Down Royal was his first visit the racecourse, a track which traces its history back to 1685. Describing the presence of Dettori at the historic racetrack, Chief Executive of Down Royal Racecourse, Emma Meehan, said:
“Securing Frankie Dettori … to actually race at Down Royal is quite the feather in our cap! … hosting him at the racetrack is such a coup for us, and one of the last oopportunities for racing enthusiasts to see him compete professionally.”
The English-based jockey had two mounts on the the 7-race programme. The featured Grant Thornton Ulster Cesarewitch Handicap over 2 miles and 2 furlongs saw Dettori partner the Matthew Smith-trained No Thanks.
The seven-year-old son of Epsom Derby winner Pour Moi out of Miss Fifty was drawn in gate four. The Rory Doyle-owned gelding tracked the leader early in the contest and was positioned in second place by Dettori at the halfway stage. Taking the lead six furlongs from the wire, No Thanks was pressed strongly at the two furlong marker before being headed early in the closing furlong. Dettori’s mount had to concede to eventual winner Crassus, the mount of Irish champion flat jockey Colin Keane, who eventually won by five and a half lengths from the Conor Stone-Walsh-ridden Votre Home, trained by former Belmont Stakes-winning handler Dermot Weld. No Thanks and Dettori crossed the line a further half length back in third place.
Thirty minutes later Frankie Dettori took the ride on Evening’s Empire for father and son training combination Eddie and Patrick Harty in the Children’s Heartbeat Handicap over 1 mile 2 furlongs.
The 52-year-old jockey rode a similar race this time on the daughter of Keessar out of Somewhere. Dettori, riding in the colours of Fearghal and Bronagh Eastwood, tracked the race leader on the three-year-old, and was in second position halfway through the race. The filly challenged for the lead at the three furlong pole and was still placed second a furlong later. The Italian’s mount tired inside the final furlong, however, before fading back to a disappointing seventh place, eventually beaten around eight lengths.
Despite an unsuccessful day on his first visit to Down Royal, Dettori had some key rides to look forward to at the Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown and The Curragh over the two days that followed.
On the opening day of the Irish Champions Festival Frankie Dettori headed south to Dublin and Leopardstown Racecourse for four rides.
His first was on the English-trained raider Prosperous Voyage from the Ralph Beckett yard in the Group 1 Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes over 1 mile. The daughter of Zoffany was a well-beaten seventh behind the daughter of Siyouni,Tahiyra, the mount of Chris Hayes for Rosewell House trainer Dermot Weld. The victory was a fifth success at the highest level for the classy filly who may now target the Breeders’ Cup.
Last season’s Group 1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes runner-up Onesto was certainly Dettori’s best chance of the afternoon. Riding the French representative in the €1.25 million race, the 8/1 chance in the betting market disappointed hugely as he was pushed along by the Italian early in the home stretch.
The son of Frankel found nothing when asked for a response and made little impression in the race, before being eased down in the closing stages to pass the wire in seventh place of the eight runners, well behind race winner Auguste Rodin who bounced back to form for trainer Aidan O’Brien, jockey Ryan Moore and owners the Coolmore partners.
The Group 2 Dullingham Park Stakes wasn’t much better for Dettori as his US-bred mount, Bold Discovery, a three-year-old gelded son of Bolt d’Oro out of Caribbean Babe, trained in County Kildare, Ireland, by Jessica Harrington, only managed a sixth place finish, behind the Karl Burke-handled and Danny Tudhope-ridden winner, Flight Plan.
On what may be his final ride ever at Leopardstown, Dettori partnered with perennial jumps champion trainer Willie Mullins in the 1 mile 4 furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF ‘Petingo’ Handicap aboard Jackfinbar. The French-bred eight-year-old came home last of the 14-runner field, having being eased down in the home stretch by Dettori when out of contention.
The prime ride on the Donnacha O’Brien-trained Porta Fortuna should have given the Italian hope that he may end his Irish visit with a winner in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes. The two-year-old daughter of Caravaggio stayed on one paced in the latter stages of the seven furlong fillies’ contest to dead-heat for third place with Ornellaia. The race was won by Fallen Angel for the same winning connections as Flight Plan the previous day, owners Clipper Logistics, trainer Karl Burke and rider Danny Tudhope.
While Frankie Dettori’s final riding visit to Ireland may not have brought him the success both he and his many fans were hoping for, the Italian can certainly look back fondly on his many visits to Ireland during his long and successful career, where he won many of the country’s big races, and in some cases more than once.
Dettori won the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes six times in the past, with Swain (1998), Daylami (1999), Fantastic Light (2001), Grandera (2002), Snow Fairy (2012) and Golden Horn (2015).
The Italian rider won multiple Irish classics, with four successes in the Irish Oaks: Lailani (2001), Vintage Tipple (2003), Blue Bunting (2011) and Star Catcher (2019); he claimed both the Irish 2000 Guineas and Irish St Leger on two occassions each, the former with Bachir in 2000 and five years later aboard Dubawi, while he won the latter with Kayf Tara in 1999 and Wicklow Brave in 2016; he won the Irish Derby once, with Balanchine in 1994.
Dubawi also provided Dettori with Group success in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh, winning the race in 1998 when it was a Group 2 contest, and he took it with Fantastic Light in 2001 when the race had been upgraded to the highest level. Godolphin’s main stallion today, Dubawi, also provided a National Stakes win for Dettori when claiming the Group 1 race at The Curragh in 2004. The Italian also won the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes twice: with Pips Pride in 1992 when the race was run at Leopardstown, and in 2018 aboard Advertise at the race’s current home, The Curragh.
To read “Frankie’s Fanfare, Part 14: Frankie Dettori Prolongs Career and Will Ride in the United States Next Year in 2024” click here.
